Electrosynthesis of Molecularly Imprinted Poly‐o‐phenylenediamine on MWCNT Modified Electrode for Selective Determination of Meldonium

In this study, a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was synthesized by electrochemical polymerization and used to construct an electrochemical sensor for determination of meldonium (MEL) selectively for the first time. The polymer film was generated by using o‐phenylenediamine (o‐PD) as a monomer on the surface of carboxylic acid functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) modified pencil rod electrode in the presence of MEL as a template. MEL imprinted (MEL‐imp) and non‐imprinted (N‐imp) polymer films and coated electrodes were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), profilometry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Voltammetric measurements were carried out in a ferrocyanide/ferricyanide redox probe solution for MEL‐imp and N‐imp electrodes in the presence and absence of template molecule. The decrease in peak current of redox probe was linear with the concentration of MEL in the range of 0.1–5 μg/mL and the limit of detection (3 s/b) was found to be 0.066 μg/mL under optimized experimental conditions. The proposed sensor was successfully applied for selective determination of MEL in human urine sample with long term stability and good reproducibility.     

Fabrication of Fe(CN)63− Functionalized PDDA/CdTe Layer‐by‐layer Film with Good Electron Transfer Ability

(PDDA/CdTe)_n layer‐by‐layer (LBL) film immobilized with Fe(CN)₆^3? was fabricated on the gold electrode. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) were used to investigate the electrochemical properties of this film. The peak current of the immobilized Fe(CN)₆^3? increased as the number of the bilayers increased and was proportional to the scan rate. Compared with pure (PDDA/CdTe)_n and (PDDA/PSS)_n LBL film, Fe(CN)₆^3? immobilized (PDDA/CdTe)_n LBL film had good electron transfer ability. The immobility of Fe(CN)₆^3? into the film was attributed to its interaction with Cd²⁺ on the surface of CdTe QDs. Fe(CN)₆^3? also can interact with other metal ions, which would make Fe(CN)₆^3? release from the film. The concentrations of metal ions will affect the CV response of Fe(CN)₆^3? immobilized LBL film. It has provided a novel prototype of device or sensor for quantitative detection of metal ions.     

The Electrochemical Behavior of a N‐containing Calix[4]arene Derivative

The electrochemical behavior of 5,11,17,23‐Tetrakis‐dimethylaminomethylcalix[4]arene (DCA) has been investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV). The results show that there is an irreversible electrochemical oxidative wave with peak potential of 1.35 V in chloroform at a glassy carbon electrode. The kinetic parameters of the andic wave, such as α, n and k_s, were discussed. In addition, a new pair of quasi‐reversible redox peaks with peak potentials of 0.72 V and 0.94 V was found. It can result in DCA electrodeposition at the electrode surface. This film modified electrode was characterized by CV and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Moreover, the possible mechanism of electrodeposition was also discussed     

A Novel Electrochemical DNA Biosensor Fabricated with Layer‐by‐Layer Covalent Attachment of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes and Gold Nanoparticles

A novel DNA biosensor has been fabricated for the detection of DNA hybridization based on layer‐by‐layer (LBL) covalent assembly of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The stepwise LBL assembly process was characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The hybridization events were monitored by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) measurement of the intercalated doxorubicin, and the factors influencing the performance of the DNA hybridization was investigated in detail. The signal was linearly changed with target DNA concentration increased from 0.5 to 0.01 nM, and had a detection limit of 7.5 pM (signal/noise ratio of 3). In addition, the DNA biosensor showed an excellent reproducibility and stability under the DNA‐hybridization conditions.     

Direct Electrochemistry and Electrocatalysis Behaviors of Glucose Oxidase Based on Hyaluronic Acid-Carbon Nanotubes-Ionic Liquid Composite Film

Multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were dispersed in the ionic liquid [BMIM][BF₄] to form a uniform black suspension. Based on it, a novel glucose oxidase (GOx)‐hyaluronic (HA)‐[BMIM][BF₄]‐MWNTs/GCE modified electrode was fabricated. UV‐vis spectroscopy confirmed that GOx immobilized in the composite film retained its native structure. The experimental results of EIS indicated MWNTs, [BMIM][BF₄] and HA were successfully immobilized on the surface of GCE and [BMIM][BF₄]‐MWNTs could obviously improve the diffusion of ferricyanide toward the electrode surface. The experimental results of CV showed that a pair of well‐defined and quasi‐reversible peaks of GOx at the modified electrode was exhibited, and the redox reaction of GOx at the modified electrode was surface‐confined and quasi‐reversible electrochemical process. The average surface coverage of GOx and the apparent Michaelis‐Menten constant were 8.5×10⁻⁹ mol/cm² and 9.8 mmol/L, respectively. The cathodic peak current of GOx and the glucose concentration showed linear relationship in the range from 0.1 to 2.0 mmol/L with a detection limit of 0.03 mmol/L (S/N=3). As a result, the method presented here could be easily extended to immobilize and obtain the direct electrochemistry of other redox enzymes or proteins.     

Direct Electrochemistry of Hemoglobin in Layer‐by‐Layer Films Assembled with DNA and Room Temperature Ionic Liquid

Based on electrostatic interaction and electrodeposition, poly‐anionic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), room temperature ionic liquid 1‐butyl‐3‐methyl‐imidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMIMBF₄), hemoglobin (Hb) and Poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) were successfully assembled into Hb/IL/DNA/PDDA layer‐by‐layer complex films on the surface of ITO electrode. FTIR spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) were used to characterize the composite film. The obtained results demonstrated that the Hb molecule in the film kept its native structure and showed its good electrochemical behavior. A pair of well‐defined redox peaks of Hb with the formal potentials (E°′) of ?0.180 V (vs. SCE) was appeared in phosphate buffer solution (PBS, pH 7.0). The Hb/IL/DNA/PDDA/ITO modified electrode also showed an excellent electrocatalytic behavior to the reduction of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Therefore, the IL/DNA/PDDA complex film as a novel matrix open up a possibility for further study on the direct electrochemistry of other proteins and the fabrication of the third‐generation electrochemical biosensors.     

Stereoselective Interaction between DNA and Stable Chiral Surfaces Modified with 1,2‐Diphenylethylenediamine Enantiomers

This work described an interesting phenomenon of the stereoselective adsorption behaviors of DNA on stable chiral surfaces which were modified with 1,2‐diphenylethylenediamine enantiomers on gold electrodes. The modification process and electrochemical characterization of the chiral surfaces were measured by cyclic voltammetry (CV). The stereoselective adsorption behaviors of DNA on the two chiral surfaces were investigated via atomic force microscopy (AFM), CV, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). All results confirmed that (1R,2R)‐1,2‐diphenylethylenediamine modified surface had stronger interaction with DNA molecules than (1S,2S)‐1,2‐diphenylethylenediamine modified surface, and the chirality of the surfaces created an different effect on the morphology and adsorption quantity of DNA.     

Sensitive Electrochemical Prostate Specific Antigen Aptasensor: Effect of Carboxylic Acid Functionalized Carbon Nanotube and Glutaraldehyde Linker

The performance of carboxylic acid functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs_(COOH)), chitosan (Chit), carbon nanotubes‐chitosan (CNTs‐Chit and CNTs_(COOH)‐Chit) for immobilizing of amino‐functionalized ssDNA and fabrication of electrochemical prostate specific antigen (PSA) aptasensor were studied in detail using X‐ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The assemblies of capture probe are formed on the surface via two approaches: EDC/NHS chemistry and glutaraldehyde linker. Cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and EIS techniques were used to investigate the analytical performance of the PSA aptasensor. Under optimum conditions the sensitivity of 0.0026 µA/(ng/ml) and a limit of detection of 0.75 ng/ml (22 pM) were obtained for PSA detection. This protocol offers a new means for sensitive detection of PSA with some advantages in terms of simplicity, selectivity, ease of use and regenerability.     

Three different signal amplification strategies for the impedimetric sandwich detection of thrombin

In this work, we report a comparative study on three highly specific amplification strategies for the ultrasensitive detection of thrombin with the use of aptamer sandwich protocol. The protocol consisted on the use of a first thrombin aptamer immobilized on the electrode surface, the recognition of thrombin protein, and the reaction with a second biotinylated thrombin aptamer forming the sandwich. Through the exposed biotin end, three variants have been tested to amplify the electrochemical impedance signal. The strategies included (a) silver enhancement treatment, (b) gold enhancement treatment and (c) insoluble product produced by the combination of the enzyme horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and 3-amino-9-ethylcarbazole (AEC). The properties of the sensing surface were probed by electrochemical impedance measurements in the presence of the ferrocyanide/ferricyanide redox marker. Insoluble product strategy and silver enhancement treatment resulted in the lowest detection limit (0.3 pM), while gold enhancement method resulted in the highest reproducibility, 8.8% RSD at the pM thrombin concentration levels. Results of silver and gold enhancement treatment also permitted direct inspection by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).     

Gold Nanoelectrode Arrays and their Evaluation by Impedance Spectroscopy and Cyclic Voltammetry

A sol–gel strategy is developed to fabricate highly regular Au nanoelectrode arrays (NEAs) consisting of a nanoperforated ultrathin membrane of ZrO₂, which exhibits a well‐ordered array of pores (65±5) nm in diameter with a mean center‐to‐center distance of (110±10) nm, on a polycrystalline gold surface. The structural properties are investigated by field‐emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM), while grazing incidence small‐angle X‐ray scattering (GISAXS) is used to assess the thickness homogeneity and the period of the array of electrodes. In addition, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are carried out to describe quantitatively the accessibility, electrochemical behavior, and diffusion processes of the gold NEA. A model applying parameters obtained from FE‐SEM, CV, and EIS analyses is proposed to simulate the experimental results. A fairly good agreement between the experimental and the simulated data is obtained, thus allowing the deconvolution of the different diffusion regimes at the NEA.     

Electrochemical Behavior of o‐Nitrophenol at Hexagonal Mesoporous Silica Modified Carbon Paste Electrodes

A hexagonal mesoporous silica (HMS) modified carbon paste electrode (CPE) was fabricated and characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) methods (ferrocene as a probe). The electrochemical behavior of nitrophenol (o‐NP) at the HMS modified electrode (HMSCPE) was investigated. Compared with CPE, a well‐defined reduction peak and a remarkably peak current response was observed. It is indicated that mesoporous HMS exhibited remarkable enhancement effects on the electrochemical reduction of o‐NP. The electrochemical reduction mechanism was also discussed. Consequently, a simple and sensitive electrochemical method was proposed for the determination of o‐NP, which was used to determine o‐NP in waste water samples.     

Investigating Electrochemical Stability and Reliability of Gold Electrode‐electrolyte Systems to Develop Bioelectronic Nose Using Insect Olfactory Receptor

This article aims to demonstrate an electrochemically stable and reliable gold electrode‐electrolyte system to develop an insect odorant receptor (Drosophila melanogaster Or35a) based bioelectronic nose. Cyclic voltammograms (CVs) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) of bare gold electrodes, after modification with the self‐assembled monolayer (SAM) of 6‐mercaptohexanoic acid (MHA) and after immobilization with Or35a integrated into the lipid bilayers of liposomes were conducted in the presence of four different redox probes. Potassium ferri/ferrocyanide [Fe(CN)₆]^3?/[Fe (CN)₆]^4? and hydroquinone (H₂Q) redox probes revealed variable and irreversible signals at the time scale of our measurements, with atomic force microscopy (AFM) images and x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results suggesting gold surface etching due to the presence of CN^? ions in case of [Fe(CN)₆]^3?/[Fe (CN)₆]^4?. Although the hexaammineruthenium complex showed stable electrochemical behaviour at all stages of biosensor development, changes in CV and EIS readings after each surface modifications were insignificant. PBS buffer as a non‐Faradaic medium, was found to provide reliable systems for electrochemical probing of modified gold electrodes with Or35a/liposomes in aqueous media. Using this system, we have shown that this novel biosensor can detect its known odorant E2‐hexenal selectively compared to methyl salicylate down to femtomolar concentration.     

Surface modification and characterization of phenanthroline nanofilms on carbon substrate

Modification of glassy carbon (GC) surfaces with phenanthroline derivatives (PDs) such as 5‐amino‐1,10‐phenanthroline (5AP) and 5,6‐diamino‐1,10‐phenanthroline (56DAP) is described in this study. Surface modification experiments were performed by cyclic voltammetry (CV) scanning from + 1.2 to + 2.7 V at scan rate of 100 mV/s applying 30 potential scans in acetonitrile (CH₃CN) containing 1 mM PDs and 100 mM tetrabutylammoniumtetrafluoroborate (TBATFB). The presence of PDs on GC electrode was confirmed using CV, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), contact angle measurements and ellipsometry and comparing with the results of bare GC electrode. A mechanism was proposed for the electrochemical modification of the GC electrode surface with PDs. The structure of the 5AP and 56DAP films was also discussed in the light of electrochemical and spectroscopic data. The complex‐forming ability of the modified surfaces against metal cations was investigated by square‐wave voltammetry (SWV). It was shown that surfaces having 1,10‐phenanthroline ligands with different functional groups were quite useful for the determination of transition metal ions. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Podlike N‐Doped Carbon Nanotubes Encapsulating FeNi Alloy Nanoparticles: High‐Performance Counter Electrode Materials for Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

Podlike nitrogen‐doped carbon nanotubes encapsulating FeNi alloy nanoparticles (Pod(N)‐FeNi) were prepared by the direct pyrolysis of organometallic precursors. Cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and Tafel polarization measurements revealed their excellent electrocatalytic activities in the I^?/I₃^? redox reaction of dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). This is suggested to arise from the modification of the surface electronic properties of the carbon by the encapsulated metal alloy nanoparticles (NPs). Sequential scanning with EIS and CV further showed the high electrochemical stability of the Pod(N)‐FeNi composite. DSSCs with Pod(N)‐FeNi as the counter electrode (CE) presented a power conversion efficiency of 8.82 %, which is superior to that of the control device with sputtered Pt as the CE. The Pod(N)‐FeNi composite thus shows promise as an environmentally friendly, low‐cost, and highly efficient CE material for DSSCs.     

Electrochemical Properties of Highly Sensitive and Selective CuO Nanostructures Based Neurotransmitter Dopamine Sensor

In this article, electrochemical properties of CuO nanostructures based dopamine (DA) sensor was investigated. The morphology, structure, optical, and compositional properties of the CuO nanostructures were characterized by using SEM, XRD, UV‐Vis, and XPS techniques. The electrochemical properties were investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. The CV results indicate that biosensors based on CuO nanostructures exhibit a high selectivity and sensitivity of 0.1975 μA μM^–1 toward DA and effectively avoids the interference of ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA). The obtained EIS spectra for CuO sensors were analysed using an electrical equivalent circuit to understand the bulk and surface response via the capacitive and resistive parameters. The EIS measurement also leads to the direct determination of parameters like series resistance and ion diffusion phenomena at electrode‐electrolyte interface. The experimental CV and EIS results along with their analysis will have a significant impact on understanding the mechanism of high sensitivity and selectivity performance of CuO based sensors. This study may also lay the basis for efficient characterization of biosensors by coupling both the CV and EIS characterization techniques.     

Comparative Analysis of Proline Enantiomer in Chiral Recognition of Biological Macromolecule in Immunoassay

An interesting phenomenon of the stereoselective interaction between biological macromolecule and amino acid enantiomorphous was described. Firstly, proline enantiomer (L‐ and D‐proline) was assembled on the glassy carbon electrode surface. Then carcinoembryonic antibody (anti‐CEA) was loaded to the enantiomer surface, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was used to monitor the growth of amino acid film. The assembly process was characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) was applied to image the chiral films. Finally, the developed electrodes had interacted with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in varying concentration solutions. The AFM and amperometric results revealed that the proline enantioner had the chiral recognition function to antibody.     

Highly Sensitive Molecularly Imprinted Sensor Based on Platinum Thin‐film Microelectrode for Detection of Chloramphenicol in Food Samples

A highly sensitive and selective electrochemical biomimetic sensor was fabricated for fast detection of chloramphenicol (CAP) in honey and milk samples. Platinum thin‐film microelectrode (Pt TFME), which could provide unique electrochemical properties and achieve measurement using very limited solution volumes, was surface‐modified by electropolymerizing o‐phenylenediamine. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were used to characterize the preparation process of CAP‐imprinted poly(o‐phenylenediamine) film and rebinding ability of CAP into the imprinted cavities. The electrochemical properties of the sensor were further investigated with square wave voltammetry (SWV) by using K₃Fe(CN)₆ as an electroactive probe. The current difference of oxidation peaks of K₃Fe(CN)₆ had a good linear relationship with the concentration of CAP in the range of 0.9–10 nM. The detection limit was 0.39 nM based on the signal to noise ratio of 3. The developed sensor was successfully applied to determine CAP in honey and milk samples, and the result was in good agreement with that obtained by high performance liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry (HPLC‐MS). The sensor showed high sensitivity and excellent selectivity to CAP in comparison to other structurally related and/or normally existing antibiotics, and demonstrated great promise for the rapid quantification of CAP in real food samples and field analysis.     

Eco‐friendly Sensors Developed by Herbal Based Silver Nanoparticles for Electrochemical Detection of Mercury (II) Ion

In our study, the single‐use & eco‐friendly electrochemical sensor platform based on herbal silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was developed for detection of mercury (II) ion (Hg²⁺). For this purpose, the surface of pencil graphite electrode (PGE) was modified with AgNPs and folic acid (FA), respectively. The concentrations of AgNPs and FA were firstly optimized by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) to obtain an effective surface modification of PGE. Each step at the surface modification process was characterized by using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedence spectroscopy (EIS). The limit of detection (LOD) for Hg²⁺ was estimated and found to be 8.43 μM by CV technique. The sensor presented an excellent selectivity for Hg²⁺ against to other heavy metal ions such as Ca²⁺, Cd²⁺, Cr³⁺, Cu²⁺, Mg²⁺, Ni²⁺, Pb²⁺, Zn²⁺, Co²⁺ and Mn²⁺. Moreover, a rapid, selective and sensitive detection of Hg²⁺ was successfully performed in the samples of tap water within 1 min.     

Electrochemical Study of Schiff Bases by Means of Self‐Assembled Monolayers

In this paper, Schiffbases were investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and impedance electrochemical spectroscopy (EIS) techniques by means of self‐assembled monolayers for the first time, where a 0.1 M KCl solution and the redox couple of Fe(CN)₆^3?/Fe(CN)₆^4?were used as the electrolyte and probing‐pin, respectively. The monolayers formed by the employed Schiff base were proved to be relatively stable, and its electrochemical response in the studied system with different pH values was also de scribed clearly with CV and EIS plots. The results show that the monolayer of Schiff bases could exist in the solution with pH value from 2 to 10. In the EIS measurement in the concentration range from 10^?5 M to 5× 10^?4 M, a nearly linear relation ship between the charge transfer resistance (R_ct) and the logarithm concentration of Cu²+was observed, suggesting that Cu²+ could be titrated with the EIS method quasi‐quantitatively. The phenomenon agreed with the former report very well. Using the self‐assembled monolayers to study Schiff bases with the electrochemical method is the major contribution of our work.     

Comparative Electrochemical Study of N‐, C‐terminal and Integral Centrin on Adsorption and Metal‐Binding Properties

The adsorption behavior of apo‐ciliate Euplotes octocarinatus centrin (EoCen) and N(C)‐terminal domain of EoCen (N(C)‐EoCen) at a glassy carbon (GC) electrode is studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). Interestingly, the adsorption isotherms of C‐EoCen, N‐EoCen and EoCen at a GC surface differ from one another. It is considered to be associated with the different aggregation properties of three proteins. Furthermore, we analyze the metal‐binding properties of centrin and the followed changes in protein structure upon metal‐binding. Corresponding to the four binding sites of EoCen, it shows four no‐equiv signals of CV or EIS change. It indicates that the four different binding sites of EoCen can be discriminated by the EIS titration curves, which is in contrast with conventional use of spectral method. According to the electrostatic potential at the molecular surface of proteins, the favored orientation of N‐EoCen and C‐EoCen on the GC surface is modeled. These models can well explain the results of titration curves of Eu³⁺ to N(C)‐EoCen. This work has established the electrochemical methodology which can be used to measure metal‐binding sites involved and reveal the contribution of each metal site to the whole protein conformational change.